After the tragic events of 9/11/01, Maestro Masur and the New York Philharmonic sought to bring peace and hope to the city and the greater world through the message of music. On 9/20/2001, they were joined by soprano Heidi Grant Murphy, Baritone Thomas Hampson, the New York Choral Artists, and the American Boychoir for a performance of the Brahms Requiem that was broadcast and televised live. The proceeds from the concert were donated to World Trade Center disaster relief efforts. Perhaps most remarkable on this recording is the requested silence that follows the piece, in honor of the 9/11 victims.
This performance was featured on The New York Philharmonic This Week in 2011, as part of a 9/11 10th anniversary broadcast that also featured John Adams's Grammy-Award winning work, On the Transmigration of Souls. We have isolated the Brahms for this In Memoriam playlist. Alec Baldwin is your host.
Kurt Masur, conductor
Heidi Grant Murphy, soprano
Thomas Hampson, baritone
The American Boychoir, Vincent Metallo, director
New York Chorale Artists, Joseph Flummerfelt, director
MUSIC:
BRAHMS Ein deutsches Requiem (A German Requiem)